Arctic Monkey fever

Album set to be fastest-selling rock debut ever

20 Jan 06 - Sheffield music fans will be the first to get their hands on copies of the Arctic Monkeys album when it comes out on Monday.

The local HMV store is opening at Sunday midnight to satisfy demand by the band's hometown supporters with predictions that Whatever You Say That I Am, That's What I'm Not will become the fastest-selling debut rock album ever.

It is reported that presales of the album are already challenging the demand that met previous record holder Definitely Maybe by Oasis, back in August 1994.

"As far as the music industry is concerned, 2006 is very much the Year of the Monkey."
Gennaro Castaldo, HMV

Other stores are planning to open earlier than usual, expecting a big demand from workers and students wanting to buy copies on the way to the office and college.

Gennaro Castaldo, Head of HMV Press & PR says:

"We might be entering the Chinese Year of the Dog, but as far as the Music Industry is concerned 2006 is very much the 'Year of the Monkey' ... It usually takes much longer for a band to develop mainstream appeal and the commercial success that comes with it. The Arctic Monkeys seem to have managed this in just one leap."

The band confirmed on 6 Music this week their policy of boycotting appearances on Top Of The Pops to preserve their credibility:

"It didn't start as a big thing. It just didn't feel right. And now even if we did want to do it we can't do it because people have said... we've said no once and it's hard to go back on that."

The band are expected to score their second number one single with When the Sun Goes Down this weekend.

Bill Overton